Local Company Helping Rebuild Iraq

Posted: Wed 6:18 PM, Jul 27, 2005&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Wed 9:14 PM, Jul 27, 2005

7-27-05 - Durra Building Systems has been around about five years, making walls out of wheat straw. They even build entire homes with the unique material. Now, they're branching out right into the middle of a war zone, hoping to hit pay dirt in Iraq.

Durra will ship building kits for houses to Iraq. In the kits are all the materials needed to build the home, the walls, windows, doors, even toilets and sinks included. The homes will be two to three bedrooms and 600 square feet. The price tag is $15,000.

Durra CEO John Burg says the homes will certainly help the Iraqi people, but he also sees Iraq as a good, long-term market for his product.

Right now, there's no hard-line contract. But Durra is shopping for one with the Iraqi government. They'll likely provide the funding.

The first housing kit could go overseas in about a month. Durra has been in business for about five years, buying most of their raw materials from local farmers.

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